London

After an afternoon of uncovering Notting Hill (a neighbourhood, which I had never explored before) as well as, checking out the antique goodies on offer at Portobello Market, I hopped on the tube to Brixton to meet up with a couple of friends and to head to our next destination…

After a fabulously flamboyant morning of watching the Gay Pride Parade march through Oxford Street, London in all its extravagant glory, we headed for, what I have come to coin, ‘linner’ (lunch/dinner).

I had been enticed by Bourne and Hollingsworth’s brunch, after reading about it’s cute decor and bottomless belinnis on The Londoner. After gawping at photos of its airy greenhouse-esque dining area, wacky mish mash of ornate chairs, an abundance of hanging baskets overflowing with exotic foliage and shabby chic garden furnishings, I was on their website booking my Mum, Sister and I a table…

Once we’d weaved our way through the maze, which is Farringdon (in reality, our navigational skills were just horrendous), we arrived at B & H Buildings, ravenous and raring to eat.

We were lead through to a light fresh room, dotted with lashings of tropical colour. The clinical white walls were broken up with vibrant green ivy, copious amounts of rustic hanging baskets, which were sprouting colourful vegetation and eccentric floral patterned, squishy armchairs.

Unfortunately, we weren’t sat in the greenhouse however, we did have a great, leafy view of it…

After ordering an obligatory round of their bottomless bellinis, we were ready to get down to business.

From French toast and drop scones to crispy potato hash and good ol’ full English breakfast, B&H offer up a fab selection of tempting brunch delights.

Fancying something rather sweet and stodgy, I went for a sinfully indulgent combo of french toast, streaky bacon and maple syrup (there is a very thick piece of French toast under there… I promise!!)

My Mum went for the more traditional eggs Florentine…

Whilst my sister opted for the not so traditional, crispy potato hash topped with braised beef, HP Hollandaise and crispy shallots…
Due to the restaurant being so popular, we were only able to get a table right at the end of service (at 3.45pm) so ensure you book well in advance to secure a table at a time, which best suits you.

The thing I love most about London, is its inevitable element of surprise.

Whether it’s a quirky jazz bar, an unusually themed restaurant or a wacky, pop-up food stall/market, there is always something novel around every corner, which is bound to ignite an excitement in any passerby.

My visit to London this weekend, was no exception.

On Saturday evening, after a relaxing afternoon of slurping on wine and mojitos in Covent Garden, my friends and I took to the streets of Lewisham to hunt down a night food/drinks market, which we had heard some great things about.
Situated in an abandoned 1950s indoor/outdoor market, Street Feast, a company, which pride themselves on being London’s nomadic street food circus, have transformed this unused area into a quirky den of rustic food stalls, bars, fire pits and dance floors.

Cubbyholes of seating areas, which housed flaking wallpaper and DIY chairs and tables made out of wooden boxes, lined the market.

Food and drink stalls selling everything from minute, mouth-watering burgers and jerk chicken to potent rum served up in your very own coconut and the essential wines, beers and cocktails, were peppered amongst the seating/dancing areas.

Illuminated by crimson fairy lights and candles melted into old wine bottles, I couldn’t decide whether I felt as though we were in an old-fashioned, 1920s jazz bar or, in the Red Light District… either way, the atmosphere was fab!!

The open air dance floor was positioned at the peak of the market.

Filled with flaming fire pits, kaleidoscopic disco balls and pumping music, it was the perfect place to dance the night away under the stars before disappearing back into the city in search of the next ‘circus’ to join…

Model Market is free entry before 7pm and £3 thereafter and takes place every Friday and Saturday until 20th September.

This market should be at the top of your ‘to-see in London’ list this summer!

Along with its crisp colour scheme, the restaurant also offered splashes of unusual embellishments. From ornate, dusty blue lamps that lined the bar to a mishmash of retro fittings, which were sprinkled throughout the restaurant, The Riding House Cafe was a feast for the eyes… and of course, for the taste buds!

As we snooped over the other customers’ shoulders, getting more and more food envious by the second, we were handed the humongous menu.

Offering up everything from eggs benedict and rock oysters to spiced poussin and giant hash browns, here, there is a dish to satisfy any possible craving under the sun.

After much consideration we went for a bottle of prosecco and a couple of mounds of grilled halloumi to start (gotta settle those weird cravings) and then shared the buttermilk pancakes, lobster lasagna and giant chorizo hash brown, for main.

Words cannot describe how delicious the creamy, fruity, sticky, fluffy stack of pancakes were, so I’ll just show you instead…

It gets better…

The lobster lasagna was a new discovery for me, and one, which I hope to devour again soon…

And the giant hash brown with chorizo, mushroom and poached egg was a yumtastic triumph…

This cafe really does offer up a bit of everything.

Whether you are looking to have a casual bev after a long days work (or in the morning… no one’s here to judge), an extravagant three course meal, an indulgent, boozy brunch or a few tapas to nitpick at, whilst enjoying some of their wacky cocktails, you can find it at all at The Riding House Cafe…

Buckle up and enjoy the ride!

Have you ever been to The Riding House Cafe? What were your favourite dishes? Please comment, Facebook or Tweet me to let me know :)!

Watching a play/musical in London should be at the top of everyone’s UK bucket list.

With The West End’s chaotic potion of bright lights, excitable crowds, historic buildings, garish, luminous billboards and buzzing bars and restaurants, this area of London is a feast for the senses, before you’ve even set foot in one of its mesmerising theatres.

This weekend, I was lucky enough to tick the ‘watch a musical in the West End’ box off of my bucket list (woohoo) as my family and I went to watch the upbeat, smash hit musical, Mamma Mia at the Novello Theatre.

As we approached the theatre in a hurried fluster (we were running a little late…), I still had a chance to admire the intricate detail of its exterior. Decorated in complex carvings, Romanesque pillars and the iconic ‘Mamma Mia’ posters, which are strewn across London’s buses and tubes, we just about had time for a quick pic before rushing inside to get a glass of vino before the show begun.

Inside, the theatre was just as stunning. Embellished in meticulous gold carvings, squishy royal red chairs and antique mirrors, which exaggerated the size of the theatre as well as, the animation of the performance, it was awe-inspiring and reminded me of a cute, antique dolls house.

Then, it was time for action.

The set was simple. Using a hypnotizing blue backdrop to imitate the ocean and a collection of rustic white ‘buildings’, the set transported me straight out of the dolls house and instantly onto a remote Greek island.

Oozing eccentric costumes, an incredible orchestra, outstanding vocals and choreography and a contagious energy, the performance was a melody of hand clapping, drink spilling, feet tapping FUN, which I couldn’t recommend enough!

Offering up a cool, quirky atmosphere, live music, their all-important novelty ‘Big Easy’ bibs (see below) and HUMONGOUS sized portions of high quality, scrumptious food, our meal here, was the perfect end to a perfect night at the theatre.

Have you ever been to watch a performance in The West End? If you have, what did you see? Would you recommend it? Please comment, Facebook or Tweet me to let me know :)!

When my friend told me that she had arranged for us to go for lunch at Dishoom, a Bombay-cafe inspired restaurant in Covent Garden, London I was over the moon.

Loving anything and everything, which sparks my fond memories of my time in India, I headed to their website to tantalize my excitement even more. Once I’d browsed their menu, scanned their rave reviews on TripAdvisor and unraveled a lot of heartwarming memories of my time in Mumbai, I couldn’t wait to check it out for myself!

After finding my way from Leicester Square tube station, I entered the restaurant to the strong, comforting smell of Indian spices and chai.

The hustle and bustle of the restaurant instantly reminded me of the cafes in Mumbai… albeit, with a luxurious, modern and opulent twist.

The rustic framed Bollywood photographs and original ads from Bombay newspapers, which line the walls, the low hanging filament lights that weave their way along the ceiling like black intertwined electrical wires, the traditional Indian silver water cups, which are stacked up on the table, just as they would be in a classic Indian cafe and the cabinets of authentic Indian toiletries in the bathroom, all bring the balance of tone, taste and tradition together, perfectly.

And that’s before we’ve even discussed food and drink…

As we hadn’t booked a table (go here for the restaurant’s terms on reserving tables), we had around a 40 minute wait. However, this just meant we had time to indulge in a tasty tipple at the bar downstairs beforehand.

The restaurant is made up of two floors. The first floor, where the hectic open kitchen stands proudly, is more light, laid back, and suited for lunch. Whereas the downstairs, which houses the cocktail bar, is more dark, atmospheric and befitting for dinner.

Whilst we relaxed at the bar, I ordered a traditional, spiced chai.

Looking back, I wish I’d pushed the boat out and tried one of their unique spins on the classic Indian drinks of chai and lassi. The Bailey’s chai and rose and cardamon lassi sounded divine however, I couldn’t help myself but stick with what I knew, loved and missed…

The traditional chai was scrumptious and burst with the delicious taste and smell of an Indian, spice bazaar.

Once we had been seated, we quickly reeled off the order we had been drooling over ever since we had set eyes on the menu. We then sat goggling at the other table’s food until ours arrived.

We started with the vegetable samosas (£3.10), which were crispy and jam-packed with flavour. We then followed with a selection of dishes to share – the mattar paneer (£7.50), chicken ruby (£8.20), masala prawns (£11.20), chicken berry Britannia biryani (£8.50)… all accompanied with a batch of garlic naan (£2.20) to mop up the heavenly sauces.

Although everything, which touched my palate was exquisite, the chicken ruby was just… WOW. The combination of succulent moist chicken and a deep rich, flavoursome sauce was out of this world. I completely understand why this dish is a recommended favourite at the restaurant!

We left Dishoom not toooo worse for wear on the money front and very happy that we weren’t overly full… a feeling, which I’m sure we can all vouch for, usually happens after a hefty Indian.

If you are looking for some great quality Indian food with attentive and bubbly staff and a buzzing atmosphere, then make sure you head to Dishoom!

They also serve hearty, traditional Indian breakfasts from 8am-11.30am on weekdays and 9am – midday on weekends. Check out their menu, here.

And, if you don’t happen to be in the Covent Garden area, they also have restaurants in Kings Cross and Shoreditch.

Enjoy, and let me know how the Bailey’s chai are… I’ll definitely be popping back in for one of those babies!

Have you ever been to Dishoom in Covent Garden? What were your favourite dishes? Please comment, Facebook or Tweet me to let me know :)!

On Sunday my friend and I decided to treat ourselves to a fun day out in London. Being a little strapped for cash, we needed something to do, which wouldn’t stretch our budget… so, we thought, what can we do in London for free? Museums!!

After much debate about which museum to go to, we gathered our archaeological tools (aka. our coats and coffees) and headed to the grand British Museum.

Encasing some of the most fascinating historical antiques from human history, The British Museum is an educational, awe-inspiring and compelling place to visit.

Housed in an architecturally stunning building, which is adorned in magnificent Greek pillars, this museum holds over 8 million artifacts! Ranging from Egyptian mummies, Chinese ceramics and Greek sculptures to Viking relics, Japanese fashion and Asian Buddhas, here, there is plenty to keep you busy and entertained.

However, with the ample amount of antiquities to see, it is difficult to fit everything in. Therefore, I would advise doing some research into the different sections of the museum before arriving. This way, you can ensure you don’t miss out any of the areas you are most interested in seeing.

We managed to wander around the Egypt and Asia rooms in around an hour and a half…

Admiring the mammoth amount of Buddhas (I was in heaven) and educating myself on the enthralling history of mummification, I came away brimming with historical facts and information… and I hadn’t even skimmed the surface of what the museum has to offer!

The British Museum, is an enlightening experience. It gives you the chance to learn a huge amount about the heritage and lives of our ancestors as well as take a peek into the history and culture of some of the countries that are visited so frequently today, which, when travelling, I think is just as essential as your passport.

So, if you’re in London, head to The British Museum and get cultured! It is open from 10am – 5.30pm daily and entry is FREE!

Nearest tube station – Tottenham Court Road.

Have you been to The British Museum? If so, which was your favourite section? Let me know :).